The News That Matters about the Nuclear Industry

North Korea claims to have successfully tested hydrogen bomb

North Korea says it successfully tested hydrogen bomb, marking sixth nuclear test since 2006, ABC News, 3 Sept 17, North Korea has said it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb designed to be mounted on its newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), producing a greater yield than any of its previous nuclear tests.

Key points:

Previous recent tremors in North Korea have been caused by nuclear tests

Tremor came hours after state media said Kim Jong-un inspected new hydrogen bomb

Witnesses on the Chinese side of the border said tremor lasted roughly 10 seconds

The hydrogen bomb test ordered by leader Kim Jong-un was a “perfect success” and was a “meaningful” step in completing the country’s nuclear weapons programme, according to state television.

The announcement came hours after a large quake that appeared to be man-made was detected near the North’s known nuclear test site, indicating that the reclusive country had conducted its sixth nuclear test since 2006.

The tremor struck within a kilometre of the site of a magnitude-5.3 “nuclear explosion” from September last year, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).